Outside the ancient castle, shrouded in night, two agile figures were climbing the wall hand over hand. Their ropes strained in the darkness.0

Bear and Husky—Hastin and Hares—might have been scammers, but they did possess genuine skills. They had easily picked out the route with the fewest magical traps, slipped past the outer wards, scaled the perimeter wall, and flung their grappling hooks onto the top of a tower.0

One last climb, and they would be inside the tower itself, able to work their way downward through the castle.0

Their plan was simple: make a quick circuit, scribble a rough map to fool their employers, and get out.0

They had never...0